In a weekly press conference held by the Cuban institution, Donas emphasized from the European nation the importance of the feature film’s presence at the festival, which runs until the 16th, and the personal excitement he feels about this event.

  “Ten years ago, along with filmmakers and friends I admire, I presented my short film Oslo here at the Taormina Festival as part of a showcase of Contemporary Cuban Cinema,” he shared on his social media profile. “Now I’m back with my debut feature.”

  Baracoa film represents a return to the heart of the Caribbean island, a drama with comedic moments, depicting a reality so diverse and unpredictable that humor is inevitable.

  Starring the talented Cubans Yadier Fernandez and Carlos Luis Gonzalez, and Italians Giancarlo Giannini and Giovanni Giusto, it boasts a stellar cast including renowned Cuban actors Paula Ali, Yordanka Ariosa, and Carlos Perez Pena.

  The plot revolves around the death of Felipe, an Italian revolutionary who became a naturalized Cuban citizen, which sets in motion an unexpected journey that takes his son Pepe and the doctor Jimmy to the island’s hidden heart, details the website of the Ibermedia Program, which supported the film’s production.

  In Cuba, the Cuban-Italian co-production won the Suúñmate Award and a Special Mention from the Agrarian University of Havana at the 46th Havana Film Festival last year.

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